Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Within West Virginia, Charles Town is healthier than 87% of graded towns
Charles Town differs from West Virginia on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Charles Town. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Charles Town
Charles Town looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 87% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 35% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Charles Town trails towns with similar incomes
Charles Town is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, and only 19% of the 10,028 towns with similar household incomes ($67K–$112K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Charles Town
Charles Town runs below West Virginia on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (7.1% vs 10.6%), heart disease (6.3% vs 8.7%) and stroke (3.2% vs 4.2%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). Conditions ↓
Charles Town is an active town
Only 26.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.8% across West Virginia. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the West Virginia figure falls outside Charles Town’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Charles Town’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charles Town is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #9 of 61 in West Virginia. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 51% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 22%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Charles Town’s median household income is $89,263; among the 10,028 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 19%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Charles Town adults…
Charles Town runs below WV on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Charles Town
No hospital or community health center in Charles Town itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Charles Town; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Charles Town adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Charles Town adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Charles Town adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.7% of Charles Town adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Charles Town and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Town | C | 39.5% | 13.4% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Ranson corporation | D | 41.7% | 14.2% | 19.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Charles Town adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Charles Town
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charles Town is better than West Virginia on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Charles Town’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Charles Town | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.7–23.1 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–15.9 | 17.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.6–21.1 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%32.8–46.6 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 40%35.9–44.2 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.6–43.2 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.4–35.3 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.5 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7–8.6 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.1%6.2–8 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%12.7–18.6 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%12.8–17.7 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22.9–31.4 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.1–16.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%34.5–46.2 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.7–9.5 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77–83.7 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.5%52.8–60.4 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%86.8–90.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%72.4–78.6 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.7–71.1 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%70.1–83.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%23.5–31.3 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31%26.5–35.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.2–26 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.8–16.2 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.6–14.3 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.7%11.6–16 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%27.5–35.7 | 39.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%12.4–16.3 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.6–17.5 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the West Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Charles Town
Is Charles Town a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charles Town is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #9 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Charles Town?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.8% and 46.6%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Charles Town?
Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Charles Town’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Charles Town have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.5%), against 8.5% across West Virginia.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Charles Town more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Charles Town.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.